Drum & Desk — Restaurant in Kelantan

The only redeeming quality of this café is the ambience. I sat outdoors under the big trees, and with the good weather it almost felt like being abroad in summer. Unfortunately, the experience was spoiled by nearby tables smoking — something I thought was banned in restaurant compounds.

Everything else was a disappointment. Coffee is supposed to be the backbone of a café, yet the dirty latte I ordered tasted like nothing but milk. There was barely any coffee flavor, and at this price point, it felt like a waste.

The almond croissant was no better. Instead of being crisp and flaky, it was dense and tough, no different from what you’d find at a generic franchise.

The eggs benedict was the lowest point. The presentation looked careless, the poached egg was already broken, the muffin was soggy from being soaked in sauce, and the hollandaise was watery and flavorless. For the price they charge, this standard is unacceptable.

Overall, the only reason I made it through the meal was because I was hungry and the weather was nice. It’s sad, because KB doesn’t have many options, and this place could be so much better if it cared about quality. Even the service needs work — the cashier’s unfriendly attitude and lack of a smile were enough to dampen any remaining enthusiasm.

Until there are real improvements, I wouldn’t recommend coming here for anything other than...

Absolutely blown away by the quality of the food, the coffee, and the place itself. The design is amazing - I was honestly shocked to find such a contemporary and stylish venue in Kota Bharu. Apart from the main dining area they even have a luxurious private room for events and they have a co-working center upstairs that wouldn't be out of place in Sydney or New York.

Now about the coffee - they roast their own beans and I could taste the difference. My cappuccino was reminiscent of the best cafes in Melbourne - and I was not surprised that they have had an award winning barista.

Food wise, everything I had was absolutely delicious. Juicy chicken chop served with the best sweet potato fries I have ever had, beautiful fluffy pancakes (Japanese style) served with butter, cream AND maple syrup, piping hot croissants fresh out of the oven and one of the best cheesecakes EVER!

Highly impressed with this place, definitely the best in Kelantan if...

Food and drinks were satisfactory. Came on raya week (quite a volume of customers came).

Menu ordered: Spicy Tomyam Chicken pasta (6/10) ~ Portionwise its satisfactory, but the taste combination of 'tomyam' and minced chicken meat is a bit off. Food was not spicy. Steak and cheese (add on fries) (7.5/10) ~ Portion is quite good, but my personal opinion on how the food should be eaten by knife and fork is a bit annoying because the croissant just crumbles. At least the fries were good tho. Iced Mocha (8/10) ~ More ratio on the coffee rather than chocolate. Sunset Lover (7.5/10)

Overall the place was 'okay' but on the pricier side. Table size is quite small indoors (for 2 seating) and a bit cramped. Place was tidy but flies appear out of nowhere. Parking space outside is available up to 8 cars provided by the restaurant. Shops provide self service if you want to get your own sauce, mustard, hot sauce and drinking water at...